Another world, Celeste

Thirty Six, pt 3

"The shop owner is only stating the truth."

After listening to Syl, I finally take a bite of my first real meal of the day and suffice to say, the label does not lie. The pastry filled with juicy meat is perfectly balanced with the right amount of herbs; every bite is so delicious that I could cry. This must be the most delicious pie I have ever tasted or that might just be my hunger talking. In no time at all, I finished two pieces of meat pie in one sitting. Feeling satisfied and very full, I lean back in the chair and slowly take my time drinking the berry juice.

"So, what is it that you're going to do tomorrow with Archie?" Syl asks suddenly.

I was going to tell them about Chief's request once we're back at the inn.

"Iris, you're going to run off somewhere again without telling?"

Mint phrases her question like she had never done it before with me.

Before responding to Syl's question, I surround our table with a soundproof barrier and tell the trio rangers the summarised version of Chief's request.

"My first mission with Archie," Mint exclaims her excitement.

Archie sways his tail from inside the pet carrier bag as I stroke his head, seemingly pleased that I promised extra honey nut and seed brittles in exchange for his help tomorrow.

"It'll be just me, Archie and Mint tomorrow. Is that alright with you two, Syl, Erissa?"

Syl and Erissa exchange looks, and glance at Mint. Somehow I can imagine a big neon sign with the word 'unreliable' flashing above Mint's head to summarise their honest thoughts.

The next day, here I am in the forest with Archie and Mint, Syl and Erissa. Syl reasoned that it is still unsafe to be in the forest with only Mint as protection in case something were to go wrong, and in my case, something unexpected usually does happen. We're moving with Mint in the lead since she discovered where the blast traps were buried. The reason why we're going to the area where the adventurers hold off the monster stampede is that the blast trap that hit the Imperial Army soldiers has already been purified with Chief's sage magic so I most definitely won't be able to find any trace there.

"Don't wander off on your own, Iris."

Erissa tells me for the third time since we left through the east gate before dawn. I lightly nod my head a few times.

"How are you going to find the person that buried the monster attraction scent, Iris?" Syl raises the most crucial question for me to accomplish Chief's request.

I flash a smile and show her a small piece of the disassembled blast trap I obtained from Chief. "I'll use a spell to track it back to the owner."

"Couldn't you have just used the spell when you met with Chief?"